 |
|
| Eco Info | Greenhouse gases |
|
Noxious gases are formed by the emission of the byproducts of combustion. These byproducts are formed when the carbon elements of fossil fuels are burned to provide energy for cooking, heating, power generation etc. The fuels used in aircraft, motor vehicles and ships are all derived from mineral oil. Burning of mineral oil-based products produces about 40% of the offensive gases. Coal, burned in power stations and in old steam trains plus the devastation of rainforests produces another 40% of the gases. Natural gas, which is also burned for cooking and heating, produces another 10 to 15% of the offensive gases with the balance being made up from other sources. There is some evidence that gas produced by cows contributes a measurable amount of methane. These gases, some of which occur naturally (water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone) and others which result purely from human-driven industrial processes (hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulphur hexafluoride) are lumped together to form a mix of chemicals with characteristics which can be of benefit to us but are also detrimental if not controlled. The term greenhouse effect is derived from the ability of the earth, with this blanket of gas around it, to retain heat very much like a greenhouse. The result is that instead of the earth cooling down at intervals, it continues to heat up almost as if it were a greenhouse, accumulating the suns warmth.
|
